Food Prices Stable in September

Food Prices Stable in September

There was no overall movement in the Food Price Index (FPI) in September 2003, according to latest figures released by Statistics New Zealand. Price rises were recorded for meat, fish and poultry; grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery; and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food.

These were offset by a fall in fruit and vegetable prices.

Meat, fish and poultry prices increased by 1.2 percent in September 2003. The most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for poultry (up 3.1 percent) and fish (up 2.4 percent).

Prices for grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery rose by 0.2 percent in September.

Significant price rises came from potato crisps and fruit juice, which were partly offset by a price fall for soft drinks.

Prices for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food increased by 0.3 percent in September 2003.

Fruit and vegetable prices decreased by 3.8 percent in September 2003, driven by lower prices for fresh vegetables (down 8.9 percent). After adjusting for normal seasonal change, significant downward price movements came from broccoli (down 38.7 percent) and lettuce (down 27.6 percent).

Food prices recorded no overall change from September 2002 to September 2003. Upward contributions came from grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery (up 1.8 percent) and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 2.1 percent). These were offset by price falls for fruit and vegetables (down 5.6 percent) and meat, fish and poultry (down 3.4 percent).

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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